Pole hinge



Dec. 11, 1951 H. E. RUTLEDGE POLE HINGE Filed July 14, 1949 a WJi 06 J $1M we, 5 m 7. A m u .H fl W7 Patented Dec. 11,1951

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,577,811 l POLE HINGE Harry E. Rutledge, Pitts!)urg h, Pa. 4 Application July 14, 1949,.Serial No. 104,635

This invention relates generally to D hinges and more particularly to hinges iortubular polesthat support lights such as used to illuminate gasoline filling stations.

Outdoor flood and spotlights have to be cleaned frequently and the lamp bulbs have to be replaced when they burn out. When such lights require service and if the pole supporting the same cannotbe lowered, it is necessary to use a ladder which often results in neglect of suchservice. Some floodlight polesections in use are pivoted intermediate their ends requiring elaborate parts making them very expensive. Other pole hinges have been suggested in the art, but have never.

been adopted because of their design. The principal object of this invention is; to provide a novel pole hinge that is economicalto manufacture, sturdy in construction, simple to mount and has a streamline appearance. The structure of this invention consists of a pair of hinged pipe threaded socket members adapted to receive the ends of adjacent pole sections. One socket member is provided with a projecting semi cylindrical skirt shaped to fit over the other socket member. This skirt is bolted to the other socket member to maintain the hinge joint rigid. A closure plate having complementary edges which match the edges of the skirt isisecu-red'to the hinge joint with the skirt and they completely enclose the other socket member. This closure plate functions as a wedge or a brace to hold 6 01mins. (01; 2871-96) 1 Fig. 7 is a front view of the closure plate. 7

Referring principally to Fig. 1 of the drawings, theiloodlight pole I is mounted on the founda-v tion.-'2 and consists of the base 3 bolted to the foundation for supporting the lower pole section 4.' This lower pole section is relatively short,

. being preferablyapproximately from two totwo the upper section of the hinge from pivoting as I line sleeve.

Other objects and advantages appear in thej following description and claims.

The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplification without limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical embodiments of the invention wherein:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a fioodlight and pole, the latter being provided with a hinge comprising this invention;

Fig. 2.is an enlarged view in front elevation of the pole hinge comprising this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2; '5

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation illustrating the sockets hinged at an angle to one another; 1

Fig. 5 is a sectional view oi the lower portion of the hinge member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view or the upper portion or the hinge member; and

and one-half feet in length. The top of the lower section 4 is secured in the socket 5 of the lower hinge member 6. The upper hinge member"! I has the socket8 for the purpose of receiving the upper pole. section 9 which is materially longer thanthe lower pole section 4 and is arranged to carry the light memberlfl at the top thereof, When the pole hinge is unlocked and pulled over as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the light member 10 may be cleaned and serviced. The hinge is designed to permit the top pole section to be lowered tothe ground. In view of, the fact that the lower section 4 of the pole is low, being materially below the reach of the ordinary individual, the upper sectionof the light pole may be readily lowered on the axis of the hinge and returned to its upright position without difiiculty. As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the lower hinge section 6 is provided with an annular flange l l which is substantially as large as the annular flange i2 of the upper member I. To provide a streamline appearance the intermediate cylindrical portion of the. upper member 1 is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the flange as indicated in the drawing. As shown more in Figs. 2 and 5, the lower hinge section 6 is provided with 'a projection such as the pair of spaced ears I3'and l4 extendingfrom the closed end thereof-f1 and having aligned'holes'orbearings therethrough to receive the hinge pin I5 that is preferably in the form of a bolt and is held in place by the nut IS. The ears [3 and [4 may be spaced iromone another to enlarge the opening 28 through the closed end for the purpose of passing a cable or other electrical conductor strung through the joint from the lower pole section to the upper section. As shown, the sockets 5 and 8 of the lower and upper hinge members are preferably provided with a tapered internal pipe thread to receive the threaded ends of v pipe sections making up the pole.

The upper hinge section 1 has a transverse partition wall I! with an offset opening l8 substantially aligned with the opening 28 for the purpose of permitting the cable to pass through the hinged joint. The wall I! strengthens the upper socket member I closely adjacent the cutaway portion of the skirt as indicated by the curved line 3. I l which forms the line of the cutout that is filled by the cap or closure cover 20.

The socket of the upper section I is formed with a heavy wall which extends beyond the transverse wall I! forming two oppositely disposed ears such as indicated at 2| and 22 and which become aligned with the hinge ears I3 and ll of the lower section when the hinged sections areassembled. The ears 2| and 22 are provided with aligned holes or bearings for the purpose of receiving the pivot pin or bolt l 5 to complete the hinge. member 1 extends beyond the ears to form a semicylindrical skirt 23 that snugly fits over the perimetral surface of the lower tubular section when the hinge members are in alignment as 11- lustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. A hole Misprovided The wall of the upper tubular:

in the skirt 23 for the purpose of receivingthe.

stem of the bolt 25 which also passes through the closure plate 20 and the aligned openings 26 in the lower section 6. The bolt 25- is provided'with the nut 21 for securing the samein position. This nut draws the skirt and the'closure plate zotightf- 1y against the tubular member 6 and thus-locks the hinge joint with the pole'sections in alignment.

The plate 20 not only functions as a closure member but 1 provides a streamline appearance of the hinge piece as shown in Figs. 1, '2 and'3.

This memberalso acts as a block wedge to prevent the joint from hinging. If the nut 21 and the bolt were loose or if the skirt were to break, the semicylindrical plate would function as a wedge in the top of the cutaway portion l9 and prevent the upper pole section from hinging unless. the plate 20 were entirely removed.

; It is preferable to position the lockingbolt above the end of the lower pipe section 6 as shown in the drawing to avoid the necessity of drilling holes through this pipe section.

, Iclaim:

1. A pole hingeconsisting of a pair of menibers constructed to receive polesections, an arouate, skirt on one member shaped to fit over the other member, aligned hinge bearings in said 1.-

skirtand in said other member, a pin infsaid bearings to hinge said members together, and clamp. means to hold said skirt to said other memberand lock the. pole hinge straight. 2. A pole hinge consisting of a pair '01 members constructed to receive pole sections, an arouate skirt on one member shaped to fit over. the other member, aligned hinge bearings insaid skirt. and insaid'other member, a pinin said hearings to hinge said members together, and. a bolt through said skirt and said other member to lock said hinge straight.

3. A pole hinge consisting of a pair of met:-

4. A-pole hinge consisting of a pair of membersconstructedjto receive pole sections, an arcuate skirt on one member shaped to fit over the other member, aligned hinge bearings in said skirt and in said other member, a pin in said bearings to hinge said members together, a removable arcuate plate formed complementary to said'arcuate skirt to completely encase said other member; and clamp means embracing said skirt and plate to lock the pole hinge straight.

5*. A pole hinge consisting 01 a pair of tubular members, each constructed to receive a pole section; a se'mitubular shirt on one member shaped 'to-flt'o'ver the other member and having spaced ears with aligned holes, a portion on said other member having a hole therethrough i'or aligm merit withthe holes in said cars, a pin in said holes for hinging said'members together, and clamp means to hold saidskirt to said other member andlockth'e pole hinge straight.

I 6. A pole hinge "consisting of a pair oi. tubular members, each having a partition wall to coinplete a socket in the end portions of the tubular members to receive a pole-section, a semitubular skirton one' mer'nber beyond the partitionwall and shaped'to" fit over the other member, said skirt having spaced ears with aligned holes, a projection on the partition wall of said other member having a hole therethrough for alignment with the holes in said ears, a pin in said holes for hinging said members together, means defining passageways through said partitions oil'set from said pin, and clamp means to hold said skirt to said other member and lock the pole hinge straight.

' I HARRY E. RUTLEDGE.'

- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of thisjpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 454,690 Westaway June 23, 189 1 2,340,540 Lange Feb. 1, 1944 2,390,920 Caron Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 658,182 France Jan. 22,1929 

